I just copied and pasted these excerpts from another site
If you’re upgrading to Windows 10 on a desktop or laptop PC, then prepare to be delightfully surprised: the Start menu you know and love is back. It feels slightly odd to celebrate its return, as it should never have gone away. It’s probably the biggest change, aside from the dark theme, that you’ll notice after Windows 8. But Microsoft hasn’t simply just reinstated the old version from Windows 7. Instead, it’s completely redesigned it in a way that combines the best aspects of the last two versions of Windows.
...
It seems like every version of Windows brings a different theme, and Windows 10 is no different. It’s more restrained than Windows 8 or Vista were — but not as boring as Windows 7. A black theme sets the stage for Windows 10, but if you’re not a fan of the darkness, then there are options to pick an accent color that can be shown on the Start menu, task bar, and the new Action Center. Across all three, you’ll notice subtle transparency effects have returned to Windows 10 from their roots in Windows Vista and Windows 7. Microsoft hasn’t added any transparency to built-in apps like File Explorer, so the effect isn’t overplayed or irritating. It feels utilitarian, but in a modern way.
Navigating around Windows 10 is also greatly improved. The annoying hot corners in Windows 8 that made you pull your hair out just trying to access settings or even the Start screen have been removed — thank god. A new Action Center works as a notification center to collect alerts from apps and provide quick access to settings.
Alongside the snapping improvements is a new feature called Task View, which is a lot like Mission Control on the Mac. It displays all your open windows on a single screen so you can find what you’re looking for quickly. Microsoft has added a dedicated button to the task bar to try and get Windows 10 users to activate Task View and start using it. Microsoft claims the vast majority of its users have never used Alt+Tab to switch apps (one of those "weird but true" things about computers), so the idea is to help those users get better at multitasking.
That little button is also the gateway to a great new feature: virtual desktops. Yes, Microsoft has finally added this to Windows after years of having to use third-party alternatives. It’s a true power user option, allowing you to create separate virtual desktops with different apps. I consider myself a Windows power user, but I only find myself using virtual desktops on my laptop rather than my desktop PC. There’s no quick way to switch between virtual desktops using a trackpad or mouse, but Windows key + Ctrl + left / right is a handy shortcut. I find the quickest way to access Task View (and virtual desktops) is simply by swiping up with three fingers on a trackpad.
Microsoft has also built a virtual assistant like Siri right into Windows 10. It’s called Cortana, and it’s designed to look and feel like an extension of the Start menu, and just like the Windows Phone equivalent, you can also use your voice to search. There’s also an option to enable a "hey Cortana" feature that lets you simply holler questions at your laptop. It’s useful for simple things like the weather, but I found myself mostly using it to demonstrate Cortana to friends and family.
Windows 10 also includes a new browser, called Edge. It may be new, but it sadly sticks to the past in a number of ways. Edge’s task bar icon is barely different from that of Internet Explorer, in an effort to keep it familiar to the millions of diverse Windows users. It’s simplified, clean, and performs well in most cases — but it’s lacking features you might expect of a modern browser. Snapping tabs into new windows is messy and clunky, and downloads start automatically with no choice of where they’re being stored. This is basic stuff, and it’s surprising it’s missing. Microsoft really started from scratch with Edge, and it shows.
With most browsers, the one key thing I care about is performance, and Edge mostly delivers. Rendering most popular websites is smooth, and load times are usually good. It still feels like there’s some work to be done on occasions, and I’ve run into situations where pages just don’t render well at all or sites ask me to use Internet Explorer. Yes, Internet Explorer still exists in Windows 10, and you can access it through an "Open with Internet Explorer" option in Edge.
While we’re discussing apps, it would be remiss not to mention Microsoft’s new Windows Store. Apps, games, music, movies, and TV have all finally been combined into a single place. The goal, eventually, is that developers will write a single app and it will run on your Windows PC, tablet, phone, Xbox One, and the upcoming HoloLens headset. That’s all good news, but the bad news is that there’s still a lack of true quality apps. Microsoft’s built-in apps show what’s possible, and I hope that Windows 10 will finally encourage developers to create better ones. Microsoft is offering Windows 10 free to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users with a view to create a huge install base to attract developers. It’s a wise move, but it might be years until we see the results.
From WSJ:
Windows 10 zips right along, and in a few ways speeds up multitasking. It’s easier now to organize a bunch of different windows and jump between them by tapping a new Task View button, located next to search.
Windows 10 also manages to do this without scaling back functions on older machines. Upgrading an eight-year-old laptop running Windows 7 (HP EliteBook 6930p) took an hour and produced a computer that felt nimble and more capable. The only hitch: The laptop’s fingerprint reader no longer worked.
The most impressive new protection, called Windows Hello, is straight out of “Mission: Impossible.” It replaces passwords with your face, your eyeball or your fingerprint. You’ll need special hardware to make it work, but it means one less hassle when you log in to your computer—and, in the future, it’ll work on applications and websites, too.
From Wired:
Before we go any further, let’s get this out of the way: You should upgrade to Windows 10. If you’re using Windows 8, 7, XP, ME, or 3.1, you should upgrade. Maybe wait a couple of weeks for the biggest bugs to be squashed, but do it. Why wouldn’t you? It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s a huge improvement on whatever version you’re using.
The subtle, remarkable feat of Windows 10 is that it manages to introduce equally powerful new ideas without being so overbearing. If you upgrade your laptop from Windows 7 and steadfastly refuse to use any of the new features, the new OS will feel mostly like an aesthetic makeover. The design is cleaner and flatter, with heavier contrast between icons and backgrounds and a slightly darker overall look. It’s more consistent, too, as if Microsoft’s designers finally made it deep into the menus. But it’s the same Windows you’ve always known. Start Menu and everything.
Windows 10 is shockingly useful right out of the box.
In fact, I’m using a lot more pre-installed apps than I expected. Mail is terrific, simple and usable far beyond my expectations for any built-in email app. The redesigned Office apps, like Word and Excel, are simpler and touch-friendlier than ever. Even the Xbox app, which will let you stream games from your Xbox One and play them with a USB-connected controller, works basically perfectly. Windows 10 is shockingly useful right out of the box.
From Neowin:
Windows 10 is unique and while it may look like the desktop you grew up with, it is far more flexible than anything Microsoft has ever built; it's an OS that runs on everything, from your desktop to a phone and even the Xbox One. When Microsoft says that they are now using one OS on all of their devices, they mean it. The core of the OS is now a nimble gazelle that can be applied to any type of modern computing device and the benefits of this are profound for not only the consumer, but Microsoft as well.
What Microsoft has done with this OS is removed all the things consumers disliked about Windows 8, repackaged the good features with new mechanics, added a significant number of new features, revamped the UI, sprinkled on a bit of Windows 7 and then piloted this OS with consumers through the Insider program that has surpassed five million users. The result of this work is Windows 10, a brand new OS that feels like yesterday but operates like tomorrow.
When you first boot up the OS, Cortana will ask you to give her permission to interact with your content, to learn your favorite foods and even tell her what you want to be called. Cortana is an entirely opt-in feature and it's one I highly recommend you turn on. While you will be allowing her to learn about you and read some of your email, it's all private, it's not used for marketing purposes and it's strictly for contextual querying.
In use, Cortana works very well. She melts into the background of Windows 10 and becomes a tool that you use when needed and fortunately, it never feels forced. While it may take you some time to get used to talking to your computer or having her help you keep your day organized, once you throw yourself into it and become comfortable with the feature, it becomes a vital component of daily flow.
Originally Posted by Anton Sugar
Engadget: 91/100
I had high hopes for Windows 10 after Microsoft's Build conference, where I noted that, for once, the company was acting as a leader, not a follower. Windows 10 delivers the most refined desktop experience ever from Microsoft, and yet it's so much more than that. It's also a decent tablet OS, and it's ready for a world filled with hybrid devices. And, barring another baffling screwup, it looks like a significant step forward for mobile. Heck, it makes the Xbox One a more useful machine.
It's nice, for once, to be able to recommend a new version of Windows without any hesitation. If you've got a Windows 7 or 8 machine, there's no reason not to take advantage of Microsoft's free upgrade offer. And if, for some reason, you have a machine that's older than Windows 7, Windows 10 is good enough to justify getting a new computer.
TechRadar:
OUR VERDICT
Feature-wise, Windows 10 is the new Windows 7. It's robust, pleasant to use and free...
FOR
Start menu is functionally excellent
Action Center features are handy
Settings app is finally a Control Panel replacement
Universal apps are much higher in quality
AGAINST
Will developers embrace Universal apps?
Windows 8.1 users will miss some features
Expensive if you can't upgrade for free
Originally Posted by LOLDSFAN
TechSpot: 85/100
Pros: The best Windows experience so far. Windows 10 fixes faults from 8 and finds clever ways to be functional across different devices and form factors. It's fast, stable, good-looking and free for most users.
Cons: The Windows Store and Universal Apps still have to prove themselves. Windows 10 will only achieve greatness if Microsoft keeps updating it as promised. UI inconsistency is still something to consider.
If you’re upgrading to Windows 10 on a desktop or laptop PC, then prepare to be delightfully surprised: the Start menu you know and love is back. It feels slightly odd to celebrate its return, as it should never have gone away. It’s probably the biggest change, aside from the dark theme, that you’ll notice after Windows 8. But Microsoft hasn’t simply just reinstated the old version from Windows 7. Instead, it’s completely redesigned it in a way that combines the best aspects of the last two versions of Windows.
...
It seems like every version of Windows brings a different theme, and Windows 10 is no different. It’s more restrained than Windows 8 or Vista were — but not as boring as Windows 7. A black theme sets the stage for Windows 10, but if you’re not a fan of the darkness, then there are options to pick an accent color that can be shown on the Start menu, task bar, and the new Action Center. Across all three, you’ll notice subtle transparency effects have returned to Windows 10 from their roots in Windows Vista and Windows 7. Microsoft hasn’t added any transparency to built-in apps like File Explorer, so the effect isn’t overplayed or irritating. It feels utilitarian, but in a modern way.
Navigating around Windows 10 is also greatly improved. The annoying hot corners in Windows 8 that made you pull your hair out just trying to access settings or even the Start screen have been removed — thank god. A new Action Center works as a notification center to collect alerts from apps and provide quick access to settings.
Alongside the snapping improvements is a new feature called Task View, which is a lot like Mission Control on the Mac. It displays all your open windows on a single screen so you can find what you’re looking for quickly. Microsoft has added a dedicated button to the task bar to try and get Windows 10 users to activate Task View and start using it. Microsoft claims the vast majority of its users have never used Alt+Tab to switch apps (one of those "weird but true" things about computers), so the idea is to help those users get better at multitasking.
That little button is also the gateway to a great new feature: virtual desktops. Yes, Microsoft has finally added this to Windows after years of having to use third-party alternatives. It’s a true power user option, allowing you to create separate virtual desktops with different apps. I consider myself a Windows power user, but I only find myself using virtual desktops on my laptop rather than my desktop PC. There’s no quick way to switch between virtual desktops using a trackpad or mouse, but Windows key + Ctrl + left / right is a handy shortcut. I find the quickest way to access Task View (and virtual desktops) is simply by swiping up with three fingers on a trackpad.
Microsoft has also built a virtual assistant like Siri right into Windows 10. It’s called Cortana, and it’s designed to look and feel like an extension of the Start menu, and just like the Windows Phone equivalent, you can also use your voice to search. There’s also an option to enable a "hey Cortana" feature that lets you simply holler questions at your laptop. It’s useful for simple things like the weather, but I found myself mostly using it to demonstrate Cortana to friends and family.
Windows 10 also includes a new browser, called Edge. It may be new, but it sadly sticks to the past in a number of ways. Edge’s task bar icon is barely different from that of Internet Explorer, in an effort to keep it familiar to the millions of diverse Windows users. It’s simplified, clean, and performs well in most cases — but it’s lacking features you might expect of a modern browser. Snapping tabs into new windows is messy and clunky, and downloads start automatically with no choice of where they’re being stored. This is basic stuff, and it’s surprising it’s missing. Microsoft really started from scratch with Edge, and it shows.
With most browsers, the one key thing I care about is performance, and Edge mostly delivers. Rendering most popular websites is smooth, and load times are usually good. It still feels like there’s some work to be done on occasions, and I’ve run into situations where pages just don’t render well at all or sites ask me to use Internet Explorer. Yes, Internet Explorer still exists in Windows 10, and you can access it through an "Open with Internet Explorer" option in Edge.
While we’re discussing apps, it would be remiss not to mention Microsoft’s new Windows Store. Apps, games, music, movies, and TV have all finally been combined into a single place. The goal, eventually, is that developers will write a single app and it will run on your Windows PC, tablet, phone, Xbox One, and the upcoming HoloLens headset. That’s all good news, but the bad news is that there’s still a lack of true quality apps. Microsoft’s built-in apps show what’s possible, and I hope that Windows 10 will finally encourage developers to create better ones. Microsoft is offering Windows 10 free to Windows 7 and Windows 8 users with a view to create a huge install base to attract developers. It’s a wise move, but it might be years until we see the results.
From WSJ:
Windows 10 zips right along, and in a few ways speeds up multitasking. It’s easier now to organize a bunch of different windows and jump between them by tapping a new Task View button, located next to search.
Windows 10 also manages to do this without scaling back functions on older machines. Upgrading an eight-year-old laptop running Windows 7 (HP EliteBook 6930p) took an hour and produced a computer that felt nimble and more capable. The only hitch: The laptop’s fingerprint reader no longer worked.
The most impressive new protection, called Windows Hello, is straight out of “Mission: Impossible.” It replaces passwords with your face, your eyeball or your fingerprint. You’ll need special hardware to make it work, but it means one less hassle when you log in to your computer—and, in the future, it’ll work on applications and websites, too.
From Wired:
Before we go any further, let’s get this out of the way: You should upgrade to Windows 10. If you’re using Windows 8, 7, XP, ME, or 3.1, you should upgrade. Maybe wait a couple of weeks for the biggest bugs to be squashed, but do it. Why wouldn’t you? It’s free, it’s easy, and it’s a huge improvement on whatever version you’re using.
The subtle, remarkable feat of Windows 10 is that it manages to introduce equally powerful new ideas without being so overbearing. If you upgrade your laptop from Windows 7 and steadfastly refuse to use any of the new features, the new OS will feel mostly like an aesthetic makeover. The design is cleaner and flatter, with heavier contrast between icons and backgrounds and a slightly darker overall look. It’s more consistent, too, as if Microsoft’s designers finally made it deep into the menus. But it’s the same Windows you’ve always known. Start Menu and everything.
Windows 10 is shockingly useful right out of the box.
In fact, I’m using a lot more pre-installed apps than I expected. Mail is terrific, simple and usable far beyond my expectations for any built-in email app. The redesigned Office apps, like Word and Excel, are simpler and touch-friendlier than ever. Even the Xbox app, which will let you stream games from your Xbox One and play them with a USB-connected controller, works basically perfectly. Windows 10 is shockingly useful right out of the box.
From Neowin:
Windows 10 is unique and while it may look like the desktop you grew up with, it is far more flexible than anything Microsoft has ever built; it's an OS that runs on everything, from your desktop to a phone and even the Xbox One. When Microsoft says that they are now using one OS on all of their devices, they mean it. The core of the OS is now a nimble gazelle that can be applied to any type of modern computing device and the benefits of this are profound for not only the consumer, but Microsoft as well.
What Microsoft has done with this OS is removed all the things consumers disliked about Windows 8, repackaged the good features with new mechanics, added a significant number of new features, revamped the UI, sprinkled on a bit of Windows 7 and then piloted this OS with consumers through the Insider program that has surpassed five million users. The result of this work is Windows 10, a brand new OS that feels like yesterday but operates like tomorrow.
When you first boot up the OS, Cortana will ask you to give her permission to interact with your content, to learn your favorite foods and even tell her what you want to be called. Cortana is an entirely opt-in feature and it's one I highly recommend you turn on. While you will be allowing her to learn about you and read some of your email, it's all private, it's not used for marketing purposes and it's strictly for contextual querying.
In use, Cortana works very well. She melts into the background of Windows 10 and becomes a tool that you use when needed and fortunately, it never feels forced. While it may take you some time to get used to talking to your computer or having her help you keep your day organized, once you throw yourself into it and become comfortable with the feature, it becomes a vital component of daily flow.
Originally Posted by Anton Sugar
Engadget: 91/100
I had high hopes for Windows 10 after Microsoft's Build conference, where I noted that, for once, the company was acting as a leader, not a follower. Windows 10 delivers the most refined desktop experience ever from Microsoft, and yet it's so much more than that. It's also a decent tablet OS, and it's ready for a world filled with hybrid devices. And, barring another baffling screwup, it looks like a significant step forward for mobile. Heck, it makes the Xbox One a more useful machine.
It's nice, for once, to be able to recommend a new version of Windows without any hesitation. If you've got a Windows 7 or 8 machine, there's no reason not to take advantage of Microsoft's free upgrade offer. And if, for some reason, you have a machine that's older than Windows 7, Windows 10 is good enough to justify getting a new computer.
TechRadar:
OUR VERDICT
Feature-wise, Windows 10 is the new Windows 7. It's robust, pleasant to use and free...
FOR
Start menu is functionally excellent
Action Center features are handy
Settings app is finally a Control Panel replacement
Universal apps are much higher in quality
AGAINST
Will developers embrace Universal apps?
Windows 8.1 users will miss some features
Expensive if you can't upgrade for free
Originally Posted by LOLDSFAN
TechSpot: 85/100
Pros: The best Windows experience so far. Windows 10 fixes faults from 8 and finds clever ways to be functional across different devices and form factors. It's fast, stable, good-looking and free for most users.
Cons: The Windows Store and Universal Apps still have to prove themselves. Windows 10 will only achieve greatness if Microsoft keeps updating it as promised. UI inconsistency is still something to consider.
